Insulated Framing Member Assembly

ABSTRACT

An insulated framing member assembly includes a framing member for constructing the framing a building. An insulating layer is coupled to the framing member and the insulating layer is comprised of a thermally insulating material. A sheathing panel is positioned against the insulating layer and the insulating layer inhibits thermal communication between the framing member and the sheathing panel. In this way the insulating layer enhances thermal efficiency of the building. Additionally, the sheathing panel defines a planar component of the structure of the building.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLYSPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art including information disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to insulated devices and moreparticularly pertains to a new insulated device for improving thethermal efficiently between the joint of a framing member and sheathing.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a framing member for constructing the framing abuilding. An insulating layer is coupled to the framing member and theinsulating layer is comprised of a thermally insulating material. Asheathing panel is positioned against the insulating layer and theinsulating layer inhibits thermal communication between the framingmember and the sheathing panel. In this way the insulating layerenhances thermal efficiency of the building. Additionally, the sheathingpanel defines a planar component of the structure of the building.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an insulated framing member assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a perspective in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through4 thereof, a new insulated device embodying the principles and conceptsof an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the insulated framing memberassembly 10 generally comprises a framing member 12 that has a frontsurface 14 and a back surface 16. The framing member 12 has a thicknessof approximately 4.5 inches between the front 14 and back 16 surfaces.The framing member 12 may be a wood stud or a metal stud used inconstructing the framing of a building. Moreover, the framing member 12may be employed for framing an exterior wall, an interior wall, aceiling, a floor or any other structural component of a building forwhich a builder seeks to improve thermal transfer properties.Additionally, the framing member 12 may have a thickness ofapproximately 2.5 inches between the front 14 and back 16 surfaces.

An insulating layer 18 is provided and the insulating layer 18 iscoupled to the framing member 12. The insulating layer 18 has athickness of approximately 1.0 inches and the insulating layer 18 isattached to the front surface 14 of the framing member 12. Moreover, theinsulating layer 18 is coextensive with a length of the front surface 14and the insulating layer 18 has a distal surface 20 with respect to thefront surface 14 of the framing member 12. The insulating layer 18 iscomprised of a thermally insulating material 18, such as insulating foamor the like.

The framing member 12 with the thickness of approximately 4.5 inches andthe insulating layer 18 form a unit having a thickness of approximately5.5 inches in the convention of existing 2×6 framing members. Theframing member 12 with the thickness of approximately 2.5 inches and theinsulating layer 18 form a unit having a thickness of approximately 3.5inches in the convention of existing 2×4 framing members. The framingmember 12 may have the traditional thickness of either 5.5 inches or 3.5inches, and the insulating layer 18 may be a liquefied, insulatingmaterial that is infused into the framing member 12, extending from thefront surface 14 of the framing member 12 toward the back surface 16 ofthe framing member 12. In this way the load bearing capacity of theframing member 12 is not compromised due to a reduction in thicknessbetween the front 14 and back 16 surfaces.

A sheathing panel 22 is provided and the sheathing panel 22 ispositioned against the insulating layer 18. The insulating layer 18inhibits thermal communication between the framing member 12 and thesheathing panel 22. In this way the insulating layer 18 enhances thermalefficiency of the building. The sheathing panel 22 has a rear surface 24and the rear surface 24 abuts the distal surface 20 of the insulatinglayer 18 when the sheathing panel 22 is applied to define the wall ofthe building. Fasteners 26, such as framing nails or the like, can beextended through the sheathing panel 33, the insulating layer 18 and theframing member 12 for attaching the sheathing panel 22 to the framingmember 12.

In use, the framing member 12 and insulating layer 18 are employed toconstruct a building in accordance with either the InternationalCommercial or Residential Code. The sheathing panel 22 is attached tothe insulating layer 18 on the framing member 12 to construct thebuilding. Thus, the insulating layer 18 inhibits thermal communicationbetween the framing member 12 and the sheathing panel 22. In this waythe insulating layer 18 enhances the thermal efficiency of the building.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. An insulated framing member assembly being configured to create athermal barrier between framing members and sheathing on a building,said assembly comprising: a framing member being configured toconstructing the framing a building, said framing member having a frontsurface and a back surface, said framing member having a thickness ofapproximately 4.5 inches between said front and back surfaces; aninsulating layer being coupled to said framing member, said insulatinglayer being comprised of a thermally insulating material, saidinsulating layer being attached to said front surface of said framingmember, said insulating layer being coextensive with a length and widthof said front surface, said insulating layer having a distal surfacewith respect to said front surface of said framing member; and asheathing panel being positioned against said insulating layer, saidinsulating layer inhibiting thermal communication between said framingmember and said sheathing panel wherein said insulating layer isconfigured to enhance thermal efficiency of the building.
 2. (canceled)3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said insulating layer hasa thickness of approximately 1.0 inch.
 4. (canceled)
 5. An insulatedframing member being configured to create a thermal barrier betweenframing members and sheathing on a building, said assembly comprising: aframing member being configured to constructing the framing of abuilding, said framing member having a front surface and a back surface,said framing member having a thickness of approximately 4.5 inchesbetween said front and back surfaces; an insulating layer being coupledto said framing member, said insulating layer having a thickness ofapproximately 1.0 inches, said insulating layer being comprised of athermally insulating material, said insulating layer being attached tosaid front surface of said framing member, said insulating layer beingcoextensive with a length and width of said front surface, saidinsulating layer having a distal surface with respect to said frontsurface of said framing member; and a sheathing panel being positionedagainst said insulating layer, said insulating layer inhibiting thermalcommunication between said framing member and said sheathing panelwherein said insulating layer is configured to enhance thermalefficiency of the building.
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. An insulatedframing member assembly being configured to create a thermal barrierbetween framing members and sheathing on a building, said assemblycomprising: a framing member having a front surface and a back surface,said framing member having a thickness of approximately 4.5 inchesbetween said front and back surfaces, said framing member beingconfigured for constructing the framing of a building; an insulatinglayer being coupled to said framing member, said insulating layer havinga thickness of approximately 1.0 inches, said insulating layer beingattached to the front surface of said framing member, said insulatinglayer being coextensive with a length of said front surface, saidinsulating layer having a distal surface with respect to said frontsurface of said framing member, said insulating layer being comprised ofa thermally insulating material; and a sheathing panel being positionedagainst said insulating layer, said insulating layer inhibiting thermalcommunication between said framing member and said sheathing panelwherein said insulating layer is configured to enhance thermalefficiency of the building, said sheathing panel having a rear surface,said rear surface abutting said distal surface of said insulating layerwhen said sheathing panel is applied to said insulating layer fordefining a planar component of the building.